Closure for wallets or billfolds



Sept. 8, 1953 D. J. NASH 2,651,346 CLOSURE FOR WALLETS 0R BILLFOLDS Filed July 16, 1951 INVENTORQ DAN/EL (IA As.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 8, 1953 2,651,346 CLOSURE FOItWALLETS 0R BILLFOLDS Daniel J. Nash,

Jersey City, N. J., assignor to Nash Inc., Jersey City, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 16, 1951, Serial No. 236,867 2 Claims. (01. 15038) The present invention relates generally to billfolds; that is,walletsof the fold-over type wherein an originally elongated wallet is folded in half, crosswise, and its length thereby halved. In particular, the invention relates to closures for such articles, that is, devices for keeping same vin folded position. More particularly, the present invention relates to automatically adjustable flaps for billfolds and the like to maintain same in folded position during varying conditions of fullness, distension, etc.

Wallets of the fold-over type provide at least one elongated pocket extending the full length thereof for paper currency, checks, etc., opening along the upper edge of the article. Most foldover wallets, or bill-folds, provide additional and shorter pockets, as for cards, photographs and similar articles, the other pockets being provided on the wings of the wallet and accessible from the inneraspect thereof; Wallets of the type to which this invention is directed are carried either on the person, or in a larger handbag, and are normally made as thin as possible to reduce bulk. The wallets usually do not have gussets, pleats Or other ,expedients to permit expansion on the filling of the pockets, and when the pockets are fully' occupied andthe wallet spreads, it then becomes diflicult to maintain same in a folded position, and the wallet becomes too unwieldy for comfort.

The main object of thetherefore, is the provision of a fold-over wallet of new and improved construction in respect of the means to maintain same in folded position.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a fold-over wallet with automatically self-adjusting means to maintain same in folded position under practically all conditions as to fullness and distension.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a fold-over wallet comprising an outer elongated rectangular sheet and an inner elongated rectangular sheet of smaller outline than the outer or cover sheet and secured permanently thereto along only one side edge thereof forming one elongated therebetween pocket, and having additional pockets on the wings, and means secured to the free side of the inner sheet to releasably and yieldably maintain the wallet in folded position along a transverse median line under distension of the pockets.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide, in a wallet of the character described hereinabove, a closure strap partly of expansible material secured permanently by present invention,

one end thereof to the free end of the inner sheet and releasably to the wallet cover or outer sheet on the outside of the wallet and at the other end thereof.

Other, further and more specific objects of the present invention will in part be apparent and in part specifically pointed out in the following description of an illustrative embodiment.

In the drawings annexed hereto and forming a part hereof,

Figure l is a perspective view of one form of device constructed according to and embodying the present invention, in open, flat-lying condi tion;

Figure 2 is a section 1, with the wallet in pockets empty; and

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 with the pockets as in expanded condition.

The device, indicated generally by reference numeral l0, comprises an elongated rectangular outer sheet [2 of leather, leatherette, plastic or the like material.

on the line 22 of Figure closed condition, with the On one wing of wallet I0, I provide a side pocket 1 which is formed cover sheet sheet l4. edges of sheets [2, I4 also secures thereto the side edge of sheet 24 which in width is less than half An additional side pocket 9 is provided on the other wing of wallet l0, pocket 9 being formed As shown herein merely for illustrative purposes, the various securements referred to are by means of a pair of longitudinally split 4' shaped tubes 50, 52, which bind the upper edges of sheet l2 and the aligned side and bottom edges of sheets 24 and 30. Other securement, as stitching, cementing, heat-sealing or the like, may be employed as desired or suitable. The upper edge of sheet 30 is folded over the upper edge 20 of sheet 14 and either edge secured by tube 52 along edge 34, or else slidably engaged with sheet 12, as an alternative, the desiderata being the free movement of that portion of sheet I4 which lies between the engaged sheets 12, 30.

As the wallet or billfold I0 is bent at the median transverse line 80, the free end of inner sheet M will slide back and forth between the cover sheet and wing sheet 30. An elastic tape 62 is provided, with one :end thereof secured as by stitching G3 spaced from the free end 64 of inner sheet 14. The other end of tape 62- is secured to a T-shaped strap '66 of the same material as outer sheet 12. A slot $8 in outer sheet [2, near side 34, is provided of such width as to permit the body '10 of strap 56 to pass freely therethrough. Slot 158 is narrower than the head 12 of strap 656, to act as a stop against passing the strap head 12 out through the slot. The foot of strap 65 is provided with a male snap button fastener 14. On the outer aspect of outer sheet t2 adjacent the edge secured at it, I dispose the female cooperating snap button component it. Thus, when the Wallet is folded at line 69, it will be looked and held in such condition b th engagement of cooperating snap fasteners 14, it. When the wallet pockets are empty, or have very few papers or cards therein, the elastic tape 62 will be in the contracted position illustrated in Figure 2. When the pocket 5 is filled with paper currency or the like, and the pockets 1 and 9 distended with cards, pictures or other materials, it will be more difficult to fold the wallet, but when snaps 14, "1-6 are interfitted', as illustrated in Figure 3, the expansion of tape 62 will permit the extension of strap 66 so as to maintain the wallet in its desirably folded condition. The expansion of the elastic component of the strap and the slidability of the inelastic component thereof, thus permits the use of the strap as a whole under most conditions of wallet fullness and pocket distension.

'Ihe T-head T2 of the inelastic componentkeeps same locked against withdrawal from the wallet cover or outer layer. The user sees only the inelastic material which is preferably like the material of outer sheet 12 and the device thus is relatively unobtrusive to the eye. As the pocket contents are removed, the contraction of the elastic component 62 keeps the strap taut, flatly against the outer sheet or wallet cover. The strap sheets being otherwise separable to provide an elongated pocket therebetween, the wallet being foldable along a transverse median line, a pocket sheet on each side of the wallet, said pocket sheets being secured to the outer sheet at the bottom and side edges thereof respectively, a closure strap to maintain the wallet in folded condition, said strap being or elastic material at one end thereof, and of inelastic material at the other end thereof, the elastic end of the strap being disposed within the wallet and permanently fixed to the inner sheet at a pointintermediatethe transverse fold line and the free end of the inner sheet, the inelastic end of the strap passing through the outer sheet and being disposed partly within and partly without the wallet and being releasably securable to the outer aspect of the cover sheet adjacent the end thereof remote from the end secured to the inner sheet.

2. The wallet of claim 1, in which the outer sheet is slotted to permit passage of the inelastic portion of the strap therethrough, said inelastic portion having integral, transversely extending stop means thereon disposed within the wallet to limit the movement of said portion of the strap out of the wallet.

DANIEL J. NASH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

